Map of the Western Hemisphere 1643

This impressive carte-a-figure map is an excellent example of the fine art of decorative cartography and a 17th century European view of the New World.

The coastal contours generally follow Ortelius and Wytfliet, with the nomenclature of various explorers and settlers. The side panels, each with five portraits of indigenous people, are taken from John White (Virginia), Hans Staden (Brazil) and other accounts of early explorers.

At the top are nine town plans, including Havana, St Domingo, Cartagena, Mexico City, Cusco, Potosi, I. la Mocha in Chile, Rio de Janeiro and Olinda in Brazil.

This is one of the few maps of the Americas by this famous Dutch cartographer.

The map itself is similar to Blaeu’s wall map of 1608 with Henry Hudson’s additional discoveries of North America and Tierra del Fuego with the Strait of Le Maire.

This is the fourth state of the plate with the imprint changed to Auct: Guiljelmo Blaeuw and some re-engravings of the sea around the ships and sea patterns.

Map of the Western Hemisphere from 1643 – Historical Map